Sacramento worlds making provisions for shade in the stands
Shade was lacking at 2010 Sacramento nationals — unless your club set up tents. At worlds in July, Sacramento organizers are making it easier to find respite from the sun. Besides the three-hour afternoon break (previously reported), the Sacto LOC now advises: “To assure comfortable conditions for athletes and spectators, Sacramento 2011 organizers have arranged to cover a large section of the west, or finish line, grandstands at Sacramento State, the main competition venue. National teams will be able to rent 10-foot-by-10-foot tents between the main track at Sac State and the practice track.” Details will be forthcoming in future newsletters of the LOC. Here’s the latest newsletter, which also reveals schedule changes for the throws pentathlon. Good work, guys! Shade is absolutely essential. (They didn’t even provide shade at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials.) Now we can watch our friends compete without dropping from the heat.
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Sounds good to me!
Apropos of nothing, check out this 400-meter hurdle race INDOORS — where the guys broke for lane 1 after the first lap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkypUwdiiTw
“National teams will be able to rent 10-foot by 10-foot tents…” Ken, I think we have to be quite literal here. Does this mean that individuals who are not acting as the representatives of their national teams can rent a tent? Can competitors simply bring their own tents to the facility and set them up? Will tents larger than 10 x 10 (3.05 x 3.05 meters) be permitted?
These questions seem important in light of what happened last year. On their own, teams or individuals set up tents near or within the competition areas and were told they were not permitted, essentially violating the rules. As I recall, the tents were allowed to stand but those who set them up were told they could not have them in 2011.
Check out the WMA picture of the A. G. Spanos Sports complex (main venue). There appear to be shaded grandstands for spectators near the south end of the track. Will this type shading be provided at the World Championships?
http://wma2011.com/en/venues.htm
Who knows what sort of shade will really be provided. What is “a large section” of the finish line part of the stands? What about the other side of the track – none? Yup – that is my bet – and the other stadium – for the longer events 5k, 10k runs, walks – no shade? What about shade for the field event competitors. Last summer there was a small amount for the officials – but implements had to be out in the sun – wow bring your pot holders.
In the rest of the newsletter – lots of good stuff about the officials, I hope that the lap counting is better than last summer – I hope NOT to have the USATF certified official who was assigned to count my laps in the 5k and who refused to give me ANY INFORMATION at all. He never called out my name or laps and when I asked him – “what lap am I on” responded with “I have to figure that out”. All the other competitors in my heat had lap counters who called out to them by name with the lap count. Fire that guy – please – or assign him to some task where he has no contact with athletes.
400IM Hurdles indoors…….wow, almost as great as Rollerball!
Actually, Mary, I was wondering about that, too. I don’t know anything about the other stadium – is there any shade there? It’s nice that all that construction last year resulted in a wellness building right near the main track, but what sort of place is the other one? I’m still not convinced I’d run at worlds, especially a track event, but I am curious.
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